Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in collaboration with Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) and the Ministry of Sports and Youth, has organised a 72-hour AI-focused hackathon at the QSTP AI Week 2024, held in celebration of QSTP’s 15th anniversary.

The hackathon attracted 70 participants from four public technical schools in Qatar, as well as 30 students from Qatar University and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST). The competition was held within the framework of QSTP’s AI Week 2024 and featured a series of innovative challenges designed to engage students in the practical applications of robotics to tackle real-world sustainability issues.

The participants, aged between 15 and 18 years, were divided into two categories: high school students, who were tasked with solving specific challenges, and university students, who were given the freedom to address issues ranging from resource and waste management to sustainable agriculture.

Over the course of the competition, participants attended a series of hands-on workshops led by QSC mentors and experts, who guided the students through each challenge, refining their skills in problem-solving, public speaking, and presenting their ideas.

Dr Jack Lau, president of QSTP, said: “The AI hackathon marks an important initiative under our partnership with QSC to advance our shared objective of promoting innovation and enabling youth to contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030.

“It was incredibly refreshing to see the energy and enthusiasm of the participants – a clear indicator of how much they enjoyed being part of the AI Hackathon.

“We believe that this was more than just a competition – it not only made students aware of key methodologies and tools to drive real change in society but also allowed them to appreciate the vital values of teamwork, collaboration, communication, and trust that form the cornerstone of a successful team. The students also heard from seasoned entrepreneurs and saw cutting-edge technologies that we hope have inspired them to continue innovating.”

Eman al-Obaidi, head of Public Relations and Communications at QSC, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with QSTP and combine both our expertise to mentor, empower, and inspire youth to shape the future of Qatar.

“The hackathon provided students with the opportunity to hone their programming skills and gain insights into environmental and social sustainability concepts in line with UN (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event also served as a platform to strengthen teamwork and collaboration among students at different educational levels.”

Winners were selected based on the creativity of their solutions, the accuracy of their execution, and their idea’s potential to achieve sustainability goals.

One of the winners, Aisha Hashim al-Saada from Qatar Technical School for Girls, who, along with her team, developed the ‘Smoke Guard’ project that utilises robots to extinguish fires, said: “It was wonderful to learn new skills, make new connections, and interact with established professionals in the tech industry.”

Another winner Maryam Saad al-Badr who was part of the team that developed ‘Smart Skies’, a weather station that leverages smart sensors specifically supporting airports, said: “The overall experience of being part of this competition was great. I met some new people including technical experts who helped guide us and strengthen our programming skills.”

Winning projects included ‘Vision’ in the special needs category; ‘Gulf Security Project’ (security startup); ‘Trash Ready’ (recycling startup); ‘Home AI’ (smart homes startup); ‘AI Assistant for Mental Health’ (mental health startup); ‘Health Plant’ (agritech startup); ‘Robotic Arm Tank’ (transportation startup); ‘AI Smart Trash’ (smart waste management startup); ‘Smart Skies’ (air tracking at airports startup); ‘Weather Station’ (air tracking in industrial areas startup); ‘Smoke Guard’ (smart fire systems startup); and ‘AI Weather Project’ (smart air systems startup).